Do it

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a stiff rebuke. We need to listen. Why is the BUT there? For what went before:

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We must develop ears to hear, hearts that respond and minds that determine to obey. We are being merely religious if we act piously as if we do obey, but when our bottle is tipped react in an ungodly way. 

Malicious talk that is covered in humour stinks. It is sinful. Criticism and faultfinding is wicked and it pulls down someone God loves, in fact someone He cherishes.

Our Lord did not succumb to ungodly talk and neither should we. Amen!